Letter of the month: November 2003

My father was a Mason and my mother wore his insignia ring as her
wedding band. He has since passed away. She gave me her ring as a
remembrance of their twenty five years of marriage.

Inside the band reads "VIRTUS JUNXIT MORS NON SEPARABIT." Can you
give me the English translation to this inscription?

Thank you for any information you can give.

Sincerely,

Susan L-P

The ring is an emblem of the 14th Degree of the Scottish Rite. The
translation of "Virtus Junxit Mors Non Separbit" is "What
Virtue has joined, Death Cannot Separate."

The degrees of Scottish Rite Masonry (4th - 32nd) are a wide and
elaborate commentary on the basic lessons of the primary three degrees
of Craft ("blue-lodge") Masonry up to Master Mason. They have inspired
many with the hopefulness and wisdom of their teachings.